November is gratitude month here at The Park. Eagles soar on gratitude. Our attitude determines our altitude. We do not embrace gratitude in November because of Pilgrims. We embrace gratitude because God has been better to us than we have been to ourselves. We do not need a calendar to realize the need to tell God thank you. Like the Psalmist, we “will bless the Lord at all times.”
I was reading an issue of “Psychology Today” and encountered an article about the benefits of being grateful. All of us, at some time have gratitude blockers. If you are tempted to throw yourself a pity party when things go wrong, or if you struggle to see the bright side, read the exerts below from this article. It will bless you.
Your Pastor,
Dr. Sheron C. Patterson
Gratitude opens the door to more relationships. Not only does saying “thank you” constitute good manners, but showing appreciation can help you win new friends, according to a 2014 study published in Emotion. The study found that thanking a new acquaintance makes them more likely to seek an ongoing relationship. So whether you thank a stranger for holding the door or send a thank you note to that colleague who helped you with a project, acknowledging other people’s contributions can lead to new opportunities.
Gratitude improves physical health. Grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and report feeling healthier than other people, according to a study published in Personality and Individual Differences. Not surprisingly, grateful people are also more likely to take care of their health. They exercise more often and are more likely to attend regular check-ups, which is likely to contribute to further longevity.
Gratitude improves psychological health. Gratitude reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, from envy and resentment to frustration and regret. A leading gratitude researcher, has conducted multiple studies on the link between gratitude and well-being. His research confirms that gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression.